Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)
Mumbai, Apr 25: Large number of people from all backgrounds, be it locals, politicians or Bollywood celebrities, lined up from 7 am to 6 pm at their respective polling booths in Mumbai to exercise their franchise, in the third and final phase of polling in the state on Thursday April 24.
Maharashtra recorded an average of 57 percent voting in the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies while Mumbai notched 54 percent in its six constituencies, officials here said.
After noon, the voting figures shot up considerably in Mumbai and other parts of the state till the closing hours.
The first family of the Hindi film industry, the Bachchans - Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya - came together to cast their votes.
Superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Vidya Balan, Sonam Kapoor, Deol family of Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby, Esha Deol, Paresh Rawal, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, Sonali Bendre, Sushmita Sen, Varun Dhawan, Rajesh Roshan, Bhagyashree, Milind Soman and other film stars were also spotted.
Among the other renowned personalities were legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who came with wife Anjali, former cricketer Sandeep Patil, social activist Medha Patkar, politicians Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Murli Deora, Milind Deora, Sharad Pawar and others.
Congress candidate Priya Dutt voted at Bandra west St Annes School Polling booth. Poonam Mahajan, BJP candidate is her opponent. Congress candidate union minister Milind Deora voted at Colaba booth.
Shiv Sena party president Uddhav Thackeray voted at Teachers Colony booth at Bandra east while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party founder Raj Thackeray exercised his franchise at Dadar.
The voting went on smoothly despite the scorching sun. Maharastra MLA, BJP candidate Gopal C Shetty, his wife Usha Gopal Shetty, Gulabi Shetty, Rakesh G Shetty, Aishwarya R Shetty and family voted at Jaya Bhen Coat school booth. MP Sanjay Nirupam, Congress candidate is the opponent of Gopal Shetty.
State minister of health Suresh H Shetty and his wife Santhoshi Suresh Shetty voted at Andheri. Vile Parle east MLA Krishna S Hegde and his wife Lena Krishna Hegde voted at Parle Thilak Vidyalaya booth. Former
union minister Congress candidate Gurudas Kamath also cast his vote.
In most constituencies, notably in Mumbai, Dhule, Aurangabad and Raigad, minorities came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.
According to tentative estimates till 6 p.m., Raigad and Dindori topped with 64 percent voting, while Jalna followed with 63, Nandurbar was 62 and Dhule 61 percent vote cast.
With the presence of top industrialists, businessmen, film stars and celebrities, voting in Mumbai's six Lok Sabha constituencies went up late afternoon.
Mumbai North-Central led with 56 percent, Mumbai South-Central followed with 55, Mumbai South 54, Mumbai North-East 53, Mumbai North 52, and Mumbai North-West lowest at 50 percent.
All the four constituencies in neighbouring Thane district also picked up voting by late afternoon with Palghar notching 60 percent, Thane 52, Bhiwandi 43 and Kalyan 42 percent.
Elsewhere in the state, Nashik recorded 60 percent voting, Aurangabad 59, Raver 58, and Jalgaon 56.
This time's voting figures are much better than in 2009 in the same 19 constituencies when the state average was 45.13 and that of Mumbai 41.43.
With Thursday's balloting, the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra have come to an end.
With IANS Inputs